Quarter Note Pulse
Start with one hi-hat note per beat, kick on 1 and 3, and snare on 2 and 4.
Foundation4/44 step grid
Focus: Keep an even pulse while placing kick and snare
1H+K2H+S3H+K4H+S
Find the space between hits.
Explore 75 patterns from first backbeats to rock, disco, reggae, shuffle, jazz, funk, metal, Afrobeat, and odd-meter grooves. Add groove-to-fill transitions or build and save your own eighth- and sixteenth-note patterns.
75 grooves · 0 custom
Choose a pocket.
Read each step: K kick · S snare · H hi-hat guide · T tom · C crash · + simultaneous hits · A accent. In the custom builder, cycle each cell through rest, hit, and accent.
First Backbeat
Your first complete beat: hats on eighths, kick on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4.
Rock4/48 step grid
Focus: Steady eighth notes and a strong backbeat
1H+K2H3H+S4H5H+K6H7H+S8H
Straight Pop Beat
A steady pop foundation with a consistent kick, snare, and closed hi-hat pattern.
Pop4/48 step grid
Focus: Keep the eighth-note hat even and the backbeat clear
1H+K2H3H+S4H5H+K6H7H+S8H
Two Beat Rock
A stripped-down rock groove that leaves room to focus on the backbeat.
Rock4/48 step grid
Focus: Hear a strong snare on beats 2 and 4
1H+K2H3H+S4H5H6H7H+S8H
Four on the Floor
Kick every beat, snare on 2 and 4, and even eighth-note hi-hat.
Dance / Disco4/48 step grid
Focus: Keep four steady kick notes under the backbeat
1H+K2H3H+K+S4H5H+K6H7H+K+S8H
Half Time Rock
The pulse stays steady while the snare lands once per bar on beat 3.
Rock4/48 step grid
Focus: Leave space and place the snare on beat 3
1H+K2H3H4H5H+S6H+K7H8H
Punk Drive
A fast, straight eighth-note groove with a firm kick and backbeat.
Punk4/48 step grid
Focus: Keep the eighth notes even at a brisk tempo
1HA+KA+CA2H3HA+SA4H5HA+KA6H7HA+SA8H
Disco Offbeat Hat
Four-on-the-floor kick with a lifted offbeat hat accent and steady backbeat.
Dance / Disco4/48 step grid
Focus: Lift the offbeat hi-hat without rushing the kick
1H+K2HA3H+K+S4HA5H+K6HA7H+K+S8HA
Motown Pocket
A warm eighth-note pocket with a small kick pickup into beat 3.
Soul4/48 step grid
Focus: Make the kick and backbeat feel relaxed and consistent
1H+K2H3H+S4H+K5H+K6H7H+S8H
Reggae One Drop
Kick and snare meet on beat 3 while the hi-hat carries the pulse.
Reggae4/48 step grid
Focus: Leave beat 1 open and land the band hit on beat 3
1H2H3H4H5H+K+S6H7H8H
Reggae Steppers
A steady kick on every beat with a light backbeat on 2 and 4.
Reggae4/48 step grid
Focus: Keep an even quarter-note kick beneath the hat
1H+K2H3H+K+S4H5H+K6H7H+K+S8H
Ska Upbeat
A brisk upbeat pattern with snare on the '&' counts and kick on the quarter pulse.
Ska4/48 step grid
Focus: Place the snare on the offbeat eighth notes
1H+K2H+S3H4H+S5H+K6H+S7H8H+S
Country Train Beat
A driving train-like pattern with an alternating low and backbeat voice.
Country4/48 step grid
Focus: Alternate kick and snare evenly under the hats
1HA+KA2H3HA+SA4H5HA+KA6H7HA+SA8H
Blues Shuffle
A swung triplet-grid shuffle with kick on 1 and 3 and snare on 2 and 4.
Blues4/4Triplet feel
Focus: Keep the long-short triplet feel relaxed
1H+K2·3H4H+S5·6H7H+K8·9H10H+S11·12H
Jazz Swing Ride Pattern
A basic swung ride pattern with a light hi-hat on beats 2 and 4. Use the hi-hat voice as your ride cymbal guide.
Jazz4/4Triplet feel
Focus: Ride the triplet pulse and keep the feathered kick quiet
1HA+KA2·3H4HA+KA+SA5·6H7HA+KA8·9H10HA+KA+SA11·12H
Bossa Nova
An original bossa-inspired coordination study with a syncopated kick and steady eighth-note guide.
Latin4/48 step grid
Focus: Keep the cross-stick backbeat while the kick syncopates
1H+K2H3HA+SA4H+K5H6H+K7HA+SA8H
Samba Drive
A brisk, original samba-inspired kit exercise with repeated bass drum notes.
Latin4/416 step grid
Focus: Coordinate the repeating kick figure against the backbeat
1H+K2·3H4K5H+S6·7H+K8·9H10K11H12·13H+K+S14·15H16·
Syncopated Funk Pocket
Anchor the snare while the kick moves between the pulse; keep sixteenth-note subdivisions clear.
Funk4/416 step grid
Focus: Place offbeat kicks without disturbing the backbeat
1H+K2·3H4K5H+S6·7H8·9H10·11H+K12·13H+S14·15H16·
Broken Beat
A syncopated study in displaced kick and snare accents over a steady subdivision.
Funk / R&B4/416 step grid
Focus: Count the sixteenths while the accents shift around the bar
1H+K2·3H4·5H+S6·7H8K9H10·11H+K12S13H14·15H+S16·
Five-Four Drive
A musical five-beat groove with a clear grouping.
Odd meter5/4 (3 + 2)8 step grid
Focus: Feel five as 3 + 2
1H+K2H3H4H5H+S6H7H+K8H9H+S10H
Seven-Eight Grouping
A short odd-meter phrase with a clear kick grouping and a snare anchor near the end.
Odd meter7/8 (2 + 2 + 3)8 step grid
Focus: Group the seven eighth notes as 2 + 2 + 3
1H+K2H3H+K4H5H+K+S6H7H
Five-Four Half Time
An open five-beat groove with a half-time backbeat and a steady eighth-note guide.
Odd meter5/48 step grid
Focus: Hold the five-beat phrase while leaving space around the snare
1H+K2H3H4H5H+S6H7H+K8H9H10H
Sparse Rock Backbeat
A relaxed eighth-note hat line with only one kick and a clear two-and-four snare.
Rock4/48 step grid
Focus: Keep the backbeat steady while leaving the kick space
1H+K2H3H+S4H5H6H7H+S8H
Quarter Kick Backbeat
Quarter-note kicks support the familiar snare on beats two and four.
Foundation4/48 step grid
Focus: Keep the kick even under a steady backbeat
1H+K2·3H+K+S4·5H+K6·7H+K+S8·
Slow Rock Drive
A slow, open rock beat that helps build even hands and dependable snare placement.
Rock4/48 step grid
Focus: Stay relaxed through a slow eighth-note pattern
1H+K2H3H+S4H5H+K6H7H+S8H
Kick Pickup Intro
Add one extra kick on the final offbeat while the hi-hat and backbeat stay steady.
Foundation4/48 step grid
Focus: Place a simple pickup without rushing the next bar
1H+K2H3H+S4H5H+K6H7H+S8H+K
Tom Pulse
A simple alternating tom and snare exercise with an eighth-note guide.
Foundation4/48 step grid
Focus: Move between tom and snare while keeping the pulse
1H+K2H3H+S4H+T5H+K6H7H+S8H+T
Three-Quarter Waltz
A simple waltz pulse with kick on one, snare on two, and a light final beat.
Waltz3/48 step grid
Focus: Feel the first beat of each three-beat bar
1HA+KA2H3H+S4H5H6H
First Six-Eight Pulse
A basic compound-meter exercise with kick on the first pulse and snare on the fourth.
Compound meter6/88 step grid
Focus: Count six even eighth notes in two groups of three
1HA+KA2H3H4HA+SA5H6H
Quarter-Note Backbeat
A sparse pattern with one note per beat across the hi-hat, kick, and snare.
Foundation4/44 step grid
Focus: Keep quarter notes even and put the snare on two and four
1HA+KA2HA+SA3HA+KA4HA+SA
Hat Accent Alternation
Play eight steady hi-hat notes and make the main beats stand out from the offbeats.
Coordination4/48 step grid
Focus: Alternate strong downbeats with quieter offbeats
1HA+KA2H3HA+SA4H5HA+KA6H7HA+SA8H
Crash and Land
Start the bar with a crash and kick together, then settle into a simple backbeat.
Rock4/48 step grid
Focus: Coordinate a crash with the first kick
1HA+KA+CA2H3H+S4H5H+K6H7H+S8H
Four Even Kicks
Four quarter-note kicks create a stable base under the two-and-four backbeat.
Dance4/48 step grid
Focus: Keep the bass drum even on every beat
1H+K2H3H+K+S4H5H+K6H7H+K+S8H
Rock Kick Pickup
A familiar backbeat with a kick pickup that pulls the phrase into the next bar.
Rock4/48 step grid
Focus: Place the kick pickup on the final eighth note
1H+K2H3H+S4H5H+K6H7H+S8H+K
Rock Offbeat Kick
Shift one bass drum note to the '&' after beat two while the snare anchors two and four.
Rock4/48 step grid
Focus: Keep an offbeat kick from pulling the snare forward
1H+K2H3H+S4H+K5H+K6H7H+S8H
Indie Open Space
The hats and backbeat keep moving while the kick leaves room between its two notes.
Indie Rock4/48 step grid
Focus: Hold time through a bar with fewer kick notes
1H+K2H3H+S4H5H6H7H+S8H+K
Sixteenth R&B Pocket
A lightly syncopated kick and snare pattern over a full sixteenth-note hat guide.
R&B4/416 step grid
Focus: Count sixteenth notes while keeping the snare settled
1HA+KA2H3H4H5HA+SA6H7H8H+K9HA10H11H+K12H13HA+SA14H15H16H
Ghost Note Pocket
Keep the main backbeat strong and place softer snare notes around it.
Funk4/416 step grid
Focus: Separate quiet snare taps from backbeat accents
1H+K2·3H4·5HA+SA6·7H8K+S9H10·11H+K12S13HA+SA14·15H16·
Sixteenth Disco Drive
Four-on-the-floor kick under a continuous sixteenth-note hat pattern and steady snare.
Dance / Disco4/416 step grid
Focus: Keep the kick on each beat while the hand subdivides
1HA+KA2H3H4H5HA+KA+SA6H7H8H9HA+KA10H11H12H13HA+KA+SA14H15H16H
Classic Shuffle Pocket
A swung triplet hat line with kick on one and three and snare on two and four.
Blues4/4Triplet feel
Focus: Keep the skipped triplet note light
1H+K2·3H4H+S5·6H7H+K8·9H10H+S11·12H
Walking Shuffle Kick
A triplet shuffle with an extra kick note leading into the second half of the measure.
Blues4/4Triplet feel
Focus: Maintain the shuffle while the kick walks through the bar
1H+K2·3H4H+S5·6H+K7H+K8·9H10H+S11·12H+K
Ride and Comp
A ride-like triplet guide with sparse snare comping and a light hi-hat on two and four.
Jazz4/4Triplet feel
Focus: Keep the ride flowing while placing snare comp notes
1HA+KA2·3·4HA+KA+SA5·6·7HA+KA8·9S10HA+KA+SA11·12·
Ska Two-Step
A brisk two-and-four kick with snare notes on the eighth-note upbeats.
Ska4/48 step grid
Focus: Keep the upbeat snares light and even
1H+K2H+S3H4H+S5H+K6H+S7H8H+S
Reggae Rockers
A steady roots-style kit exercise with four kicks and a light snare on two and four.
Reggae4/48 step grid
Focus: Keep the kick on each beat with a relaxed backbeat
1H+K2H3HA+KA+SA4H5H+K6H7HA+KA+SA8H
Afrobeat Interlock
A repeating syncopated kick line and sparse snare pattern make a coordination study.
Afrobeat4/416 step grid
Focus: Coordinate a repeating kick figure under even hats
1H+K2·3H4K5H+S6·7H+K8·9H+K10·11H12K13H+S14·15H+K16·
Soul Hat Lift
A steady soul groove with selected offbeat hi-hat accents and a moving kick pickup.
Soul4/48 step grid
Focus: Lift selected hat notes without changing the backbeat
1H+K2HA3H+S4H+K5H+K6HA7H+S8H+K
Three-Quarter Rock
A rock pattern in three with a kick on one and a snare on three.
Rock3/48 step grid
Focus: Place the backbeat on beat three of a waltz bar
1HA+KA2H3H4H5HA+KA+SA6H
Six-Eight Blues
A compound-time shuffle with a bass drum on the first pulse and snare on the fourth.
Blues6/8Triplet feel
Focus: Group the six pulses into two groups of three
1HA+KA2H3H+K4HA+SA5H6H
Four-on-the-Floor Hat Lift
A four-kick dance pattern with a lifted offbeat hat accent and a stable snare.
Dance / Disco4/48 step grid
Focus: Keep every kick solid as the hat accents move
1H+K2HA3H+K+S4HA5H+K6HA7H+K+S8HA
Straight Sixteenth Rock
A straight rock backbeat beneath a full sixteenth-note hi-hat guide.
Rock4/416 step grid
Focus: Keep the sixteenth-note hand motion even
1HA+KA2H3H4H5HA+SA6H7H8H9HA+KA10H11H12H13HA+SA14H15H16H
Cascara-Inspired Study
An original coordination study with a repeating accented hand pattern and syncopated kick.
Latin4/416 step grid
Focus: Keep the repeating bell-like hand pattern even
1HA+KA2·3·4H5S6·7HA+KA8·9HA10·11K12H13S14·15HA16·
Linear Funk Basics
A linear sixteenth-note phrase that moves between voices while maintaining the pulse.
Funk4/416 step grid
Focus: Keep kick, snare, and hat strokes from colliding
1HA+KA2·3H4K5SA6H7·8K9HA10·11H+K12S13·14H15K16S
Double-Kick Metal Grid
A demanding sixteenth-note kick ostinato with a steady snare and eighth-note hand guide.
Metal4/416 step grid
Focus: Keep fast bass drum notes even beneath the backbeat
1HA+KA2K3H+K4K5HA+KA+SA6K7H+K8K9HA+KA10K11H+K12K13HA+KA+SA14K15H+K16K
Drum and Bass Half-Time
A brisk sixteenth-note guide with a spacious snare on beat three and syncopated kick.
Drum and Bass4/416 step grid
Focus: Feel the half-time snare against a quick subdivision
1HA+KA2H3H4H5H6H7H8H+K9HA+SA10H11H+K12H13H14H15H16H
Gospel Sixteenth Pocket
A busy sixteenth-note coordination pattern with syncopated kick and snare accents.
Gospel4/416 step grid
Focus: Fit displaced snare accents around the anchor beats
1H+K2·3H4K5HA+SA6·7H+K8S9H10·11H+K12S13HA+SA14·15H+K16S
Second-Line Study
An original parade-style coordination exercise with displaced snare and kick accents.
New Orleans4/48 step grid
Focus: Maintain a buoyant pulse through syncopated accents
1HA+KA2H3H+S4H+K5HA+KA6H+S7H+S8H+K
Clave Coordination Study
A two-bar-inspired, original kit coordination pattern with shifting accents and open space.
Latin4/416 step grid
Focus: Keep a two-bar accent phrase steady across the bar line
1HA+KA2·3H4·5H+S6KA7H8·9HA+KA10·11H12KA13H+S14·15H16·
Six-Eight Rock Drive
A strong compound rock pulse with bass drum on one and four and snare on four.
Rock6/88 step grid
Focus: Drive two groups of three without flattening the meter
1HA+KA2H3H4HA+KA+SA5H6H
Twelve-Eight Slow Shuffle
A spacious triplet-grid groove with a rolling ride guide and backbeat on beats two and four.
Blues12/8Triplet feel
Focus: Hold four triplet groups with a deep backbeat
1HA+KA2H3H4HA+SA5H6H7HA+KA8H9H10HA+SA11H12H
Nine-Eight Grouping
An odd-meter exercise with nine eighth-note steps grouped as two, two, two, and three.
Odd meter9/8 (2 + 2 + 2 + 3)8 step grid
Focus: Hear the final group of three before the bar turns
1HA+KA2H3H+S4H5HA+KA6H7HA+KA8H9H+S
Seven-Eight 3 + 2 + 2
A seven-eighth phrase grouped as three, two, and two with clear kick and snare anchors.
Odd meter7/8 (3 + 2 + 2)8 step grid
Focus: Keep the three-note opening group distinct
1HA+KA2H3H+S4HA+KA5H6HA+KA7H+S
Five-Four 2 + 3
A five-beat rock phrase grouped as two plus three with a stable eighth-note guide.
Odd meter5/4 (2 + 3)8 step grid
Focus: Feel the two-beat pickup into the longer group
1HA+KA2H3H+S4H5HA+KA6H7HA+KA8H9H+S10H
Five-Four Syncopation
A more displaced kick pattern over a five-beat grouping, with snare notes marking the turns.
Odd meter5/4 (3 + 2)16 step grid
Focus: Keep syncopated kicks inside the five-beat phrase
1HA+KA2H3H4H5H+S6H+K7H8H9HA+KA10H11H12H13H+S14H15H+K16H17HA+SA18H+K19H20H
Jazz Waltz Ride
A triplet-grid ride pattern with light kick support and sparse snare comping.
Jazz3/4Triplet feel
Focus: Keep the triplet ride flowing across three beats
1HA+KA2·3H+S4HA+KA5·6H7HA+KA8S9H
Twelve-Eight Gospel Pulse
A compound triplet exercise with a steady guide, moving kick, and backbeat anchors.
Gospel12/8Triplet feel
Focus: Keep a flowing triplet hand while displacing the kick
1HA+KA2H3H4HA+SA5H6H+K7HA+KA8H9H10HA+SA11H12H+K
Broken Sixteenth Hats
A broken hat orchestration with gaps while syncopated kit voices fill the rhythmic space.
Funk / R&B4/416 step grid
Focus: Keep a consistent internal sixteenth-note count
1HA+KA2·3H4·5S6H7K8H9HA10·11H12K13S14H15·16H
Four-Beat Accent Displacement
A repeating accent cycle crosses the bar line over a stable four-beat foundation.
Coordination4/416 step grid
Focus: Hold the backbeat while accents shift every three steps
1HA+KA2·3H4·5H+S6·7HA8·9H+K10·11H12·13HA+SA14·15H16·
One-Bar Tom Ascent
A one-bar fill study that moves from snare to toms and lands on a crash.
Fill study4/416 step grid
Focus: Move a steady sixteenth-note fill around the kit
1SA2S3S4S5SA6S7S8S9TA10T11T12T13TA14T15T16CA
One-Bar Tom Descent
A descending fill that travels from high tom back to snare with a clear final accent.
Fill study4/416 step grid
Focus: Play even singles while moving down the toms
1TA2T3T4T5TA6T7T8T9TA10T11T12T13SA14S15S16CA
One-Bar Linear Fill
A challenging linear fill where each sixteenth-note step moves to a different kit voice.
Fill study4/416 step grid
Focus: Play the fill without overlapping drum voices
1KA2T3S4T5SA6T7K8T9SA10T11K12T13SA14T15T16CA
Rock Groove → Fill
Play a straight rock beat for one bar, then move through a simple snare and tom fill. The phrase loops back to the downbeat.
Groove + fill2 bars · 4/416 step grid
Focus: Keep the first bar steady and make the second-bar fill resolve
1HA+KA+CA2·3H4·5HA+SA6·7H8·9HA+KA10·11H12·13HA+SA14·15H16·17KA18·19·20·21S22T23T24T25KA+SA26T27S28T29S30T31T32CA
Pop Groove → Fill
A steady pop bar followed by a short tom fill and a crash to lead into the next loop.
Groove + fill2 bars · 4/416 step grid
Focus: Keep the pop backbeat clear before a compact fill
1HA+KA+CA2·3H4·5HA+SA6·7H8·9HA+KA10·11H12·13HA+SA14·15H16·17KA18·19·20·21S22·23·24·25KA26T27T28T29S30T31K32CA
Funk Groove → Fill
A syncopated sixteenth-note funk bar moves into a linear fill that resolves with a crash.
Groove + fill2 bars · 4/416 step grid
Focus: Preserve the syncopated pocket through the fill
1HA+KA+CA2·3H4·5HA+SA6·7H8K9HA10·11H+K12·13HA+SA14·15H16·17HA+KA18T19H20T21H+S22T23H24K25HA+TA26T27H+K28T29H+S30T31H32CA
Shuffle → Triplet Fill
A blues shuffle bar followed by a triplet-based snare and tom fill with a clear resolution.
Groove + fill2 bars · 4/4Triplet feel
Focus: Keep the swung subdivision consistent into the fill
1HA+KA+CA2·3H4HA+SA5·6H7HA+KA8·9H10HA+SA11·12H13SA14T15T16S17T18T19SA20T21T22S23T24CA
Half-Time Groove → Fill
A spacious half-time first bar contrasts with a sixteenth-note fill in the second bar.
Groove + fill2 bars · 4/416 step grid
Focus: Hold the slow backbeat while counting the faster fill
1HA+KA+CA2·3H4·5H6·7H8·9HA+SA10·11H+K12·13H14·15H16·17HA+KA18·19H20·21H22T23H+T24T25HA+KA+SA26T27H+S28T29H+S30T31H+T32CA